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If you've decided to take the GRE, then Varsity Tutors can help set you up with the right San Francisco-Bay Area GRE prep option for you. The GRE is a standardized test intended for those wishing to attend graduate school. It's very similar to the SAT or the ACT, although most people who take the GRE have already earned their bachelor's degree. This is in contrast to the SAT or ACT, which targets high school students. If you need to take the GRE, then you might be trying to get into a grad school at Stanford University, or perhaps UC San Francisco. Your GRE scores plays a major role when it comes to getting accepted into grad school.
The GRE contains three sections, and you have about 3 hours and 45 minutes to complete the test. The good news is that you can take this test almost anywhere in the world, as it's offered in more than 160 countries. The sections you'll need to complete include Analytical Writing, Verbal Reasoning, and Quantitative Reasoning. These are all important topics that you might cover in your GRE prep.
You have a few different options when it comes to preparing for your GRE. You might choose to take a GRE prep course, which is an excellent option for anyone who enjoys a group learning environment. These courses are fully online, and you'll be learning alongside a group of other students who are preparing for the GRE. You'll have the chance to learn from an expert instructor, ask questions, interact, and cover topics related to the GRE.
Of course, you also have the option to enlist the help of a GRE private instructor. This is a perfect solution for those who enjoy one-on-one instruction. You might benefit from a more personal learning environment with a highly qualified private instructor. With this option, you can experience a much more personalized and custom-tailored approach to your study regimen. Your private instructor can help you focus on concepts that you find particularly challenging.
What Does GRE Prep Cover?
Each section of the GRE focuses on entirely different skills, so you'll need to become well-versed in each area to achieve your full potential on this test. We'll give you a basic rundown of what to expect from each section, but your GRE instructor can go into much more depth.
The Analytical Writing section takes one hour to complete. During this section, you will have a total of two tasks to complete. The first task is to analyze an issue, while the second task is to analyze an argument. You should plan to spend roughly thirty minutes on each section. You should also plan out your analysis before actually writing out each task. Organization is key to tackling this section with speed and efficiency, and this might be something that your instructor covers in your GRE prep. This section will put many of your skills to the test. You'll be scored based on how well you can articulate concepts, use examples and reasons, and maintain focus throughout your writing. This section also assesses your overall command of the English language.
Verbal Reasoning is another section you'll need to become familiar with. Many skills will be tested in the Verbal Reasoning section, including your ability to summarize, analyze, and interpret written passages. There are many different types of questions you might face within this section. Reading comprehension questions are common, and you'll be asked to evaluate approximately 10 written passages in this section. You'll also face text completion questions, which ask you to fill in blank parts of a written passage. You'll need to choose the best possible answer for each of these questions. Sentence equivalence questions are also part of the Verbal Reasoning section. In this section, you'll be given partial sentences and asked to complete them in the best possible way. With these questions, you can choose two answers per blank section.
The final section of your GRE is Quantitative Reasoning. This is essentially the math section of the test. You'll be tested on your understanding of basic math concepts, and you'll also use logic and reasoning to solve a number of problems. You'll be tested on a number of math-related skills, including algebra, arithmetic, data analysis, and geometry. These questions are presented in many formats, including multiple choice, numeric entry, and quantitative comparison.
Note that there are actually two more sections: an Experimental section and a Research section. You don't really need to worry about these sections, as they're not scored, but it's helpful to know. These sections contain questions that might be used in future GRE tests. You may or may not encounter both of these sections on test day.
What Are The Benefits Of Each Type Of San Francisco-Bay Area GRE Preparation?
As previously noted, there are two different types of GRE prep to choose from here: a San Francisco-Bay Area GRE prep course, or a San Francisco-Bay Area GRE tutor. Each of these options has its own unique benefits, and you might be better suited to one option over the other. Let's find out the differences between these prep types.
Working in a San Francisco-Bay Area GRE prep class is an ideal option for those who enjoy working with groups, and want the flexibility of an online class. New classes start weekly, and you can choose between a two-week and a four-week course. When you join a virtual classroom, you'll be taught by a qualified instructor who will cover relevant subject matter pertaining to your upcoming GRE. You'll also have the opportunity to interact and ask questions.
Working one-on-one with a private instructor is a perfect option if you benefit from personalized, highly targeted study sessions that focus on the specific concepts that you need to learn. Throughout your personal study sessions, your instructor will learn which learning tools suit you best, which gives them the chance to create highly efficient techniques that work for your individual learning style.
How Can I Find San Francisco-Bay Area GRE Prep In My Area?
Varsity Tutors can connect you with whichever study option suits you best. Remember, this is an important step on your road to grad school. It makes sense to invest in your future and give yourself a solid chance of fully understanding the upcoming GRE before you take the test. Simply contact Varsity Tutors, and get set up with a San Francisco-Bay Area GRE prep option that works for you.

Jennifer: San Francisco GRE test prep instructor
...in college, in topics ranging from language arts to mathematics for elementary to college students. I believe that the most productive progress can be made with the one-on-one interaction tutors can have with students. With this interaction, I can tailor my teaching methods and figure out a better way to explain a difficult concept. Being able to be a part of a student's learning progress and helping them reach their potential is very fulfilling. And...
Education & Certification
- University of California-Riverside - Bachelor of Science, Chemistry
Subject Expertise
- GRE
- 1st Grade Math
- PRAXIS
- Other
- +107 subjects

Jennifer: San Francisco GRE test prep instructor
...Creative Writing. Currently, I work as a Teaching Assistant and graduate instructor for college-level rhetoric and composition classes, as well as university-level senior thesis and literature seminars. I also work with everyone from ESL students to students with multiple languages to elementary-aged students just learning to read and write for the first time. And although it may sound silly, I get really excited about reading, writing, researching, and editing, and even more so, I look...
Education & Certification
- University of California-Berkeley - Bachelor in Arts, English
- Mills College - Master of Arts, English Literature
Subject Expertise
- GRE
- GRE Subject Tests
- Medieval Literature
- Social Sciences
- +128 subjects

Cody: San Francisco GRE test prep instructor
...one public high school in the nation by Newsweek. While there I took extensive college coursework in math, physics, chemistry, biology, and the humanities while also completing my high school education. After graduating I began my undergraduate education at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Cambridge, Massachusetts, recently ranked by US News as the number one university in the country. At MIT I am pursuing a degree in mathematics. During this time I have...
Education & Certification
- Massachusettes Institute of Technology - Bachelor of Science, Chemistry
Subject Expertise
- GRE
- OAT
- DAT
- PCAT
- +127 subjects

Matthew: San Francisco GRE test prep instructor
I have four years of teaching experience in a variety of roles from principal instructor of college math classes to one-on-one mentoring with high school students. I am passionate about social justice, novel mathematics education, and increasing diversity in STEM majors and careers. Currently, I am working on a thesis in discrete geometry and combinatorics, as well as doing research for UCSF where I...... The philosophy that I bring to every class and tutoring session is that it is going to be a period of high intensity training. However I assume that for the student, it is only the beginning of their training, and that for every hour spent in class in a tutoring session with me, at least one hour will be spent in self-study to completely master the topic. Together we lay the groundwork and the pace for that study. Tutoring is not be an extension of lecture, but a training session where I expect a high level of student effort, attention and creativity. My method is to quickly develop a casual but engaging rapport with the student so that we feel comfortable making mistakes in front of each other and are able to collaborate on a learning method rather than drilling problems. The aim is twofold: to help students realize the level of commitment, work, and intellectual awareness required to really master subjects, as well as to instill confidence that they are capable of doing so.
Education & Certification
- SFSU - Bachelors, Philosophy/Mathematics
- SFSU - Masters, Mathematics
Subject Expertise
- GRE
- French 1
- Elementary Math
- French
- +38 subjects

Evan: San Francisco GRE test prep instructor
I'm an academic by profession and a writer by habit. I have over three years of teaching experience at private tutoring companies, UC Berkeley, UC Berkeley's Summer Bridge Program, and as a freelance political science/calculus tutor (there's more overlap than you think). In 2014, my paper "Set Theory and Fuzzy Sets: Their Relationship to Natural Language" was published in the Newsletter of the American Political Science Association Organized Section for Qualitative and Multi-Method Research. I'm...
Education & Certification
- University of California-Berkeley - Bachelor in Arts, Political Science and Government
Subject Expertise
- GRE
- MCAT
- GMAT
- GRE Analytical Writing
- +130 subjects

Helene: San Francisco GRE test prep instructor
...tutored mostly Math freelance and from 2011 to 2012 I taught French part-time at Bay Languages Academy, an after school program in Alameda. I started working with Varsity Tutors in 2013. I have always loved getting to know all of my students. Every single one has taught me so many things about learning and teaching, and I believe in return many have grown from working with me. For me, learning to work with a student...
Education & Certification
- Mills College - Bachelor in Arts, Sociology/Anthropology
Subject Expertise
- GRE
- Algebra 2
- SAT Subject Test in German with Listening
- Anthropology
- +57 subjects

Eric: San Francisco GRE test prep instructor
...an after-school program where I provided one-on-one instruction for K-12 students in all subject areas but focused in math and literacy. I also worked as a substitute teacher in the Buffalo area providing quality instruction in a variety of disciplines as needed. I plan to continue substitute teaching in the 2015-2016 school year in the San Francisco Bay Area. While my teaching certification is in instrumental music, my primary interest in tutoring is high school...
Education & Certification
- Vanderbilt University - Bachelor in Arts, Music
- Vanderbilt University - Masters in Education, Education
Subject Expertise
- GRE
- Reading
- Study Skills and Organization
- Trigonometry
- +29 subjects

Vivek: San Francisco GRE test prep instructor
I am passionate about helping students get better! I love Mathematics and Physics, and want to be involved with the subjects for as long as possible.... To be flexible in teaching methods according to students' needs, and to be available to them for as much as they need.
Education & Certification
- Indian Institute of Technology - Bachelors, Chemical Engineering
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology - PHD, Nuclear Engineering
Subject Expertise
- GRE
- GRE Subject Tests
- Competition Math
- Chemistry
- +32 subjects

Michael: San Francisco GRE test prep instructor
...and work experience at a think tank in Rome, Italy. I have a broad liberal arts background, but I am especially good at helping students understand coursework in Politics/Government, World History, or International Affairs. I take a patient and nonjudgmental approach; no one is good at everything, but everyone can improve with practice and guidance. There are usually several ways to teach the same material, and I have a knack for finding the one that...
Education & Certification
- The College of William & Mary - Bachelor in Arts, Political Economy, History
Subject Expertise
- GRE
- GMAT
- History
- IB Global Politics SL
- +46 subjects

Retesh: San Francisco GRE test prep instructor
...most important lesson I've learned would be that it is important to never lose hope when life gets tough. It's okay if you don't have all As every semester in every class: what's more important is your effort. One's efforts and hard work are what really measure one's intelligence and my goal as a Varsity Tutors instructor are to not only teach my students the material but also encourage them to work hard as school...
Education & Certification
- Marquette University - Bachelors, Physiological Sciences
- Drexel University - Masters, Health Management and Policy
Subject Expertise
- GRE
- AP Calculus AB
- GRE Quantitative
- Physiology
- +46 subjects

Alexander: San Francisco GRE test prep instructor
...middle-schoolers wrestling with the basics, to working professionals in graduate programs. I have a diverse mathematical background, and experience working with students who are seeking a little extra help for all kinds of reasons. I am happy to work with middle- or high-school students in any of the standard courses. I have tutored Algebra, Geometry, Trigonometry, Pre-Calculus, etc. and am very comfortable with the assignments given in these classes, as well as the areas students...
Education & Certification
- Swarthmore College - Bachelor in Arts, Mathematics
Subject Expertise
- GRE
- Pre-Calculus
- Algebra 2
- Graduate Test Prep
- +22 subjects

Jacqueline: San Francisco GRE test prep instructor
...Writing at Oxford University and Literature at Harvard University. In my free time, I am a volunteer for several charitable organizations such as Romanian Children's Relief, Stop Hunger Now, and Relay for Life. Though I tutor in a wide variety of topics, I am most passionate about English. I am a highly skilled writer and editor who can provide valuable tutoring to any student struggling with the written word. Most importantly, my methods of teaching...
Education & Certification
- University of Richmond - Bachelor in Arts, English
Subject Expertise
- GRE
- SAT Subject Test in Literature
- SAT Subject Tests
- High School English
- +30 subjects

Shannon: San Francisco GRE test prep instructor
...degree in English, with an emphasis in Literature, Criticism, and Analysis. I have worked as a tutor for six years. During this time, I have had the most experience tutoring pre-algebra, algebra, advanced algebra, geometry, Spanish and college-level algebra. I think based on the amount I have tutored and my overall experience, my favorite subject to tutor is math because there is always one, and only one, right answer. Through effective communication and patience, the...
Education & Certification
- University of California-Davis - Bachelors, Biological Sciences & English (Double Major)
Subject Expertise
- GRE
- Algebra 3/4
- Geometry
- Environmental Science
- +48 subjects

Rohayah: San Francisco GRE test prep instructor
I grew up without much resources to help me succeed in school. Equipped with enthusiasm to learn and succeed in life, I embarked on a journey to reach the goals that I had in mind. As a result of that experience, I can really empathize with students who are struggling in school and do not know whom to turn to for help. My forte has always been mathematics, so I would like to help as...
Education & Certification
- University of Florida - Bachelors, Mathematics
Subject Expertise
- GRE
- SAT Subject Test in Mathematics Level 2
- SAT Mathematics
- SAT Subject Test in Mathematics Level 1
- +30 subjects

Lucas: San Francisco GRE test prep instructor
...science, English and social studies. I also offer lessons in French, statistics and research/composition skills-- plus test preparation for SAT, ACT, GED and GRE. I am an adaptable and communicative tutor, with a broad knowledge base and varied teaching experiences. After graduating magna cum laude from Georgetown University, I studied and worked on sustainable development issues in Washington, D.C. for several years. I am now pursuing a career in education. I have worked with students...
Education & Certification
- Georgetown University - Bachelors, Int'l Environmental Studies (B.S.F.S.)
Subject Expertise
- GRE
- Languages
- SAT Subject Tests
- PSAT
- +52 subjects

Alexandra: San Francisco GRE test prep instructor
I am a current graduate level student with a background in technical, science, and humanities coursework. I have years of experience putting this coursework into action through both teaching and technical positions. I enjoy tailoring my teaching methods to each individual student, and I look forward to meeting and working with you!
Education & Certification
- The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga - Bachelor of Engineering, Chemical Engineering
- Johns Hopkins University - Master in Public Health, Public Health
Subject Expertise
- GRE
- GMAT
- College English
- College Chemistry
- +61 subjects
Education & Certification
- Swarthmore College - Bachelor in Arts, Mathematics and Statistics
Subject Expertise
- GRE
- GRE Subject Tests
- Pre-Calculus
- Calculus 3
- +37 subjects

Jon: San Francisco GRE test prep instructor
...and physics at the college and high school levels. I love teaching and find the process of helping people discover how much they can do and how "easy" some of this can be once you have the right perspective awesomely satisfying! I have an undergraduate degree in mathematics and experience with graduate level math classes and numerical research. Math is one of the subjects I really love thinking and talking about. I have tutored students...
Education & Certification
- University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus - Bachelor of Science, Mathematics
- University of California-Berkeley - Master of Science, Theoretical Chemistry
Subject Expertise
- GRE
- AP Calculus BC
- Biochemistry
- AP Calculus AB
- +31 subjects
Education & Certification
- Stanford University - Bachelor in Arts, Psychology
- Stanford University - Master of Science, Environmental Engineering
Subject Expertise
- GRE
- Math
- Physical Chemistry
- IB Extended Essay
- +33 subjects

Isabelle: San Francisco GRE test prep instructor
I am a recent graduate from Yale University, where I studied Psychology and Neuroscience. I currently work in content marketing at Halo Neuroscience. I am passionate about writing, music, fitness, and nutrition.
Education & Certification
- Yale University - Bachelor of Science, Psychology
Subject Expertise
- GRE
- SAT Subject Test in Literature
- ACT Science
- SAT Writing and Language
- +25 subjects